“What Can I Eat?” Healthy Choices for American Indians and Alaska Natives with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes nutrition education curriculum for Native communities

"What Can I Eat?" Healthy Choices for American Indians and Alaska Natives with Type 2 Diabetes (WCIE AI/AN) is a diabetes nutrition education program culturally adapted for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living with type 2 diabetes. It is endorsed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

WCIE AI/AN is a 5-class, interactive, group-and theory-based nutrition education curriculum with a focus on traditional AI/AN foods and using the ADA diabetes plate for meal planning. It is based on social cognitive theory and specifically draws on concepts such as behavioral capacity, expectations, self-efficacy, and reciprocal determination. WCIE AI/AN includes ample opportunities for community-specific adaptations to honor the heterogeneity of AI/AN communities.

About the WCIE AI/AN curriculum

The curriculum includes 5 interactive, theory-based, diabetes nutrition education classes for AI/AN adults living with type 2 diabetes and their family members and/or support people. It consists of a scripted facilitator guide, a participant guide, and group share questions for each class.

Classes are ~90 minutes in length and offered weekly for 4 weeks, with the 5th and final ‘reunion’ class offered 2 months after class 4. This usually means it takes about three months to complete the full series of classes (classes #1 through #5). However, each facilitator can tailor the cadence of the classes to best meet their community needs. For example, classes can be offered every other week, which would take ~10 weeks to complete all the classes. The curriculum is an excellent addition to Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) programs.

Each class includes:

Peer-to-peer learning opportunities
Kinesthetic and arts-based nutrition education
Physical activity
Mindful nutrition activity

Class Topics and Activities

Class	Week	Class Topic	Nutrition Lesson and Hands-On Learning Activity	Physical Activity	Mindful Nutrition Activity
Class #1	1	Introduction to Carb Foods and the Diabetes Plate	Carb identification game Diabetes plate drawing activity Focus on traditional carb foods	Group balloon challenge (cardiovascular)	Mindful breathing before making nutrition choices
Class #2	2	Sweet Foods and a Healthy Diabetes Diet	Sweet foods and the diabetes plate Sugar sweetened beverage / food label activity with sugar packets Traditional unsweetened beverage tasting activity	Resistance band strength training (strength)	Mindful visualization before making nutrition choices
Class #3	3	Planning Healthy Diabetes Meals	Healthy protein identification Focus on traditional protein foods Meal planning activity (grocery list, pantry inventory, calendar)	Walking (cardiovascular)	Mindful guided imagery to visualize healthy eating
Class #4	4	Fat, Salt, and Healthy Eating Away from Home	Sodium/salt label reading activity Healthy fats Eating healthy on-the-go: interactive class skits	Body weight resistance and stretching (strength, flexibility)	Mindful walking to reduce autopilot nutrition decisions
Class #5	12	Review, Reunion, and Celebration	Diabetes plate review activity Class review with BINGO Long term goal setting / vision board Certificate of class completion	Dance train activity (cardiovascular)	Mindful guided eating activity